Mal and Zoe climbed out of the airlock and walked along Serenity’s hull towards the other ship, coming towards them pretty fast.

“Sir, this is going to be tricky,” Zoe said. “If we don’t get this right –“

“It’ll be a long walk home.” Mal lifted the grappler he held. “Just keep your fingers crossed.”

“In a space suit, sir?”

Mal didn’t dignify that with an answer, just put the grappler to his shoulder and aimed carefully for the side of the other vessel, holding his breath quite unnecessarily as he steadied himself, then fired. The grappler flew straight out, hitting the skin of the other ship, the magnetic seal gripping hard.

“Nice shot, sir,” Zoe said.

“Thanks. Now hold on.” He waited for Zoe to grab hold of the grappler unit, then activated the winch mechanism. He felt his boots leave Serenity, and they moved silently through space.

“Think it’ll hold with both of us?” Zoe asked.

He looked at his first mate through the faceplates. “You ask that now?” he said.

“Would it have made any difference if I’d asked earlier, sir?”

He shook his head and looked back up at the fast approaching ship. “Hold on,” he said.

The winch stopped and their momentum carried them forward a little until their feet made contact with the outer hull, their magnetic boots sticking so they could stand up. “Come on,” Mal said quietly.

Zoe opened the airlock outer door and they slid inside, waiting for the pressure to equalise. The light turned from red to green, and Mal gently, as quietly as he could, opened the door. No-one was outside, but that didn’t mean they hadn’t noticed an unauthorised entry. Quickly they stepped out into the corridor, stripping off gloves and helmets, taking their guns from leg pouches.

Silently Mal pointed down the corridor to the left and Zoe nodded, heading that way. Mal went down to the right, checking each room as he came to it. He turned the corner, very carefully, finding himself in the galley, and at the far end a room not unlike the common area on his own